CH 7

In the glorious and splendid hall, there are many tables and mats. All the Ministers and Princes are seated in order.

The Emperor hasn't arrived yet, and everyone in the hall has a great time chatting with acquaintances around.

Pei Zheng sat leisurely beside his desk. Qi Changyi stood up secretly, moved slowly to his side, and sat down on his knees obediently.

Pei Zheng only needs to turn sideways slightly, and his tall figure can block Qi Changyi's body. From the opposite angle, only General Zhao Litang sitting in front of Pei Zheng can be very clear about the movements of the two.

Zhao Litang stared at Qi Changyi, who was kneeling beside Pei Zheng with his head bowed. The glass in his hand was suddenly crushed by him. The wine in the glass that burst open, mixed with blood and water and soaked his dark-colored robes.

As if he didn't realize it, he covered his hands under his wide sleeves.

Pei Zheng noticed his (Zhao Litang's) fiery eyes casting a meaningful glance. But the little fool on his side kept his head down, as if he was avoiding some difficulties.

Qi Changyi's submisiveness made Pei Zheng's eyes even more ice-cold. He deliberately leaned over to Qi Changyi for a sniff, and whispered in his ear, "Why is it so fragrant? Did you apply some rouge and face powder?"

The face of the man in front of him became even more fair and flawless than before, and his tender red lips were alluring and tempting. 

"Applied, applied some."

Pei Zheng stretched out his hand and rubbed behind his ear. There was indeed some white powder on his fingertips, which made the little man tremble.

"How can you use some women's things?" Pei Zheng looked with a meaningful glance at the opposite side, "Who do you want to dress up for?"

Qi Changyi couldn't understand the yin and yang in Pei Zheng's tone. Aggrieved, he raised his head, and his line of sight happened to meet Zhao Litang, who was on the opposite side.

The disbelief and sorrow in Zhao Litang's eyes made Qi Changyi want to lower his head again.

Pei Zheng pressed his hand directly against his chin, forcing him and Zhao Litang to look at each other. Qi Changyi's chin was already covered with fingerprints from pinching. But this time, it was even more painful, and his eyes were moistened. 

"Why, the person you were thinking about day and night came back, and now you don't even want to take a look?" Pei Zheng's breath on Qi Changyi's cheek was extremely ice-cold.

Qi Changyi tried hard from the start, but he couldn't struggle free out of the restrictions at all.

"Pei-Gege..." he expended a great deal of effort to shout.

Pei Zheng snorted coldly and let go.

Qi Changyi lowered his head at once. He quickly reached out and wiped away the tears that dripped on his robe. 

The anger in Zhao Litang's eyes on the opposite side was about to explode. Pei Zheng hooked the corner of his lips in satisfaction, and patted Qi Changyi's black and neat hair.

"Your Royal Highness, please take your seat as soon as possible. The Emperor will be here soon. If he sees you sitting so close to This Minister, I'm afraid he will think too much of it."

Just as he was talking, the gentle voice of the eunuch supervisor Zhang Ying sounded in an accented tone, "The Emperor arrived, the Empress is here."

Qi Changyi was so frightened that he quickly stood up, and returned to his position. As a Prince who was not favored and had a very weak sense of existence, he was arranged in a lonely corner far away from his heart.

Everyone in the hall knelt orderly on the ground and bowed their heads in the most respectful courtesy.

Qi Changyi knelt down at the moment when the Emperor stepped in. His knee hardly hit the ground, but he could only endure the severe pain, lie down and salute.

"All my Dear Officials (1) You may rise." 

The Emperor that is over fifty years old said in a warm and generous voice.

The banquet officially started at that time. The Emperor asked about the situation on the southwestern border. Zhao Litang stood up and walked to the centre of the Main Hall and knelt down on one knee.

"Reporting to the Emperor. Not long ago the barbarian tribes from the southwest launched a large-scale attack for the third time. Although they have been repelled by our army, this is not a long-term solution. This Official thinks that we should take the initiative to attack and wipe them out in one fell swoop, so as to avoid future troubles."

As soon as the voice fell, and before the Emperor spoken, a sound of the voice from one of the seats followed.

"General Zhao really have a big mouth, annihilate them in one fell swoop?" Pei Zheng said coldly, walked to the Main Hall, stood in front of Zhao Litang, and looked at him with arrogance. (2)

"General Zhao, do you know how many barbarians there are? Don't tell me you want to kill them all?" 

***

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Notes:

(1)爱卿 aiqing

'here:

- term used by the Emperor for his subjects/officials/courtiers/ministers

(2)居高临下 (idiom) 

• to live high and look down

• to overlook

• to tower above

• to occupy the high ground

• fig. arrogance based on one's social position